According to a report from TATAME Magazine out of Brazil, UFC lightweight fighter Thiago Tavares has been suspended for nine months following a failed drug test at last month’s UFC On FX 7 event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The UFC made the formal announcement this afternoon.

Tavares tested positive for drostanalone, an anabolic steroid. He must submit a clean sample before being cleared to return when the suspension is fulfilled. Tavares competed in the opening bout on the main card of the event, suffering a first-round knockout loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Tavares’ record is 17-5-1, and he has a 6-5-1 mark in the UFC.

Rumors had run rampant over the past few days about a failed drug test at UFC On FX 7, with some of those rumors pointing at possibly Vitor Belfort being the fighter in question. Dana White vehemently denied those accusations and said Belfort was not the fighter in question.

This set of drug tests were the first conducted by the newly created Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission. All 22 fighters on the card were tested.

(Updated following the formal release from the UFC, which included the substance and further testing information.)

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RyanFrederick

Ryan Frederick has been a diehard mixed martial arts fan since he saw UFC 1 at the age of 7. Since then he has yet to miss a show. He also has loves for football, baseball and fine whiskey. He fell in love with covering MMA after having also covered baseball and football, both professional and college, while working towards a journalism degree at Texas Christian University. His work has been seen on FOXSports.com, InsideFights.com, WrestlingObserver.com, Bleacher Report and ToughTalkMMA.com.